Pollution and Sustainable Development: A Survey – Based Study on Public Awareness, Perceptions, and Behavioral Practices

Pollution and Sustainable Development: A Survey – Based Study on Public Awareness, Perceptions, and Behavioral Practices

Pravin Tambat

Research Scholar, Dept of Education, University of Mumbai

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.100800029

Received: 08 August 2025; Accepted: 16 August 2025; Published: 01 September 2025

ABSTRACT

Pollution, in its various forms — air, water, soil, and noise — remains a significant obstacle to achieving sustainable development worldwide. It not only damages ecological systems but also threatens public health and economic stability, undermining the progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study employs a survey-based approach to evaluate public awareness, perceptions, and personal eco-friendly practices in relation to pollution control and sustainable development. A total of 120 respondents from both urban and semi-urban communities participated, with the sample stratified into students (50%), working professionals (30%), and homemakers or retired individuals (20%). The survey examined demographic factors, knowledge of pollution types, understanding of their connection to sustainable development, and the extent of sustainable habits in daily life. Findings indicate high awareness of air (91.7%) and water pollution (88.3%), moderate awareness of soil pollution (75%), and comparatively lower recognition of noise pollution (64.2%). Despite this, only 54% reported consistent adoption of eco-friendly habits such as waste segregation, reducing single-use plastics, and conserving energy. Pearson’s correlation revealed a strong positive link between awareness and sustainable practices (r = .76, p < .001), while the chi-square test showed that participating in environmental programs significantly improved commitment to pollution reduction (χ² = 16.42, p = .002). These results suggest that while awareness forms the foundation for sustainable behavior, it must be supported by practical interventions, incentives, and accessible infrastructure. Recommendations include strengthening experiential environmental education, improving public facilities for sustainable living, and encouraging community-led initiatives to align pollution control measures with broader sustainability goals.

Keywords: Pollution, Sustainable Development, Environmental Awareness, Waste Management, Public Participation

INTRODUCTION

Pollution has evolved into one of the most pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges of our time, cutting across national borders and affecting people regardless of geography or income. Its multiple forms—air, water, soil, and noise—pose both visible and hidden threats. Air pollution, driven largely by industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and biomass burning, contributes to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and premature deaths. According to the World Health Organization (2022), an estimated seven million premature deaths each year are linked directly to air quality deterioration. Water pollution, resulting from untreated industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and domestic sewage, contaminates freshwater sources, damages aquatic biodiversity, and reduces access to safe drinking water. Soil pollution, though less visible, depletes agricultural productivity and allows harmful chemicals to enter the food chain. Noise pollution—often overlooked in mainstream policy—has been shown to cause stress, disturb sleep patterns, and reduce overall work efficiency (Banerjee, 2022).

The concept of sustainable development, first popularized by the Brundtland Commission, emphasizes meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Within this framework, controlling pollution becomes central to several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Goal 13 (Climate Action), Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and Goal 15 (Life on Land).

India faces a unique challenge in balancing rapid urbanization and industrial growth with environmental conservation. While national initiatives such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and the Namami Gange Mission have been implemented to tackle various pollution forms, their long-term success depends heavily on public awareness, behavioral change, and active participation (Sharma & Gupta, 2021). Without citizen engagement, even the most well-crafted policy measures risk falling short of their intended impact.

The present study addresses a gap in existing research by examining multiple pollution types simultaneously while also exploring how the public perceives their relationship with sustainable development. Furthermore, it investigates whether awareness translates into tangible eco-friendly practices, and whether participation in environmental programs strengthens people’s commitment to pollution control. In doing so, it offers both empirical insights and practical recommendations that can inform policy design and community action for a more sustainable future.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The relationship between pollution control and sustainable development has been widely discussed in both global and Indian contexts. The existing body of work highlights how environmental degradation not only threatens ecological stability but also undermines socio-economic progress. However, much of the literature agrees that awareness alone does not automatically lead to consistent pro-environmental behavior—other factors such as infrastructure, incentives, and community involvement also play significant roles.

International Studies

• OECD Environmental Outlook (2021) – This global projection warns that without urgent action, the health-related costs of pollution could account for up to 2% of global GDP by 2060. The report emphasizes that behavioral change—supported by strong policy frameworks—is as crucial as technological interventions.
• UNEP Global Environment Outlook (2022) – The report links effective pollution control to sustainable economic transitions, advocating for integrated approaches that combine legislation, green infrastructure, and public engagement. It stresses that environmental degradation and economic inequality often reinforce each other, making holistic solutions essential.
• World Bank Report on Air Quality (2021) – This study finds that cities that have implemented community-based air quality monitoring programs see faster reductions in pollutant levels. It concludes that localized data transparency increases public pressure on policymakers and fosters greater civic participation.
• European Environment Agency (2022) – Research shows that pairing awareness campaigns with easy-to-access waste segregation infrastructure leads to measurable improvements in recycling and waste reduction rates. The study underlines the need for physical resources to complement educational efforts.
• Global Burden of Disease Study (2022) – By quantifying the worldwide mortality and morbidity associated with environmental pollution, this study reinforces the urgency for both preventive and corrective measures. It highlights that air pollution remains the largest environmental health risk globally, with disproportionately higher impacts in developing regions.

Indian Studies

• Sharma & Gupta (2021) – An evaluation of Delhi’s air quality initiatives reveals that while public awareness has risen, enforcement gaps and a lack of citizen incentives limit the long-term effectiveness of pollution control measures.
• Patel et al. (2022) – Their investigation in Gujarat’s manufacturing sectors found inconsistencies between official effluent discharge data and actual measurements, indicating the need for stricter monitoring and transparent reporting systems.
• Singh et al. (2019) – This study demonstrated that localized community training programs significantly improved waste segregation rates in urban households, suggesting that grassroots-level engagement is a strong catalyst for behavioral change.
• Kumar & Sharma (2020) – Research in multiple Indian cities found that while environmental awareness is high, adoption of eco-friendly practices is often hindered by financial constraints and inadequate municipal infrastructure.
• Banerjee (2022) – Focused on noise pollution, this work advocates for its inclusion in urban planning, noting that it has significant but often underestimated impacts on mental health and productivity.
• Mehta & Reddy (2021) – Their rural case study shows that communities are more likely to adopt sustainable practices when they are tied to livelihood benefits, such as improved crop yields or income generation.
• Deshmukh (2022) – This analysis of Maharashtra’s plastic ban revealed that compliance was highest in areas where strict enforcement was coupled with active promotion of affordable and practical alternatives.

Summary

Taken together, these studies suggest that while awareness campaigns are important, they are not sufficient on their own to produce long-term behavioral change. The literature consistently highlights three enabling factors:

1. Infrastructure – Access to waste management systems, clean transport, and pollution monitoring facilities.
2. Incentives – Financial or social rewards for sustainable practices.
3. Participation – Active community engagement in planning, implementing, and monitoring environmental initiatives.

The current research builds upon these insights by simultaneously assessing awareness, perception, and behavioral practices, and by statistically examining the relationship between program participation and commitment to pollution control.

DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

This section presents the demographic composition of the respondents, their awareness levels across various forms of pollution, the extent to which they practice eco-friendly habits, and the statistical tests conducted to evaluate the research hypotheses. The findings are supported by tabular data and detailed narrative interpretations.

Demographic Profile of Respondents

Table 1 Demographic Characteristics of Respondents (N = 120)

Interpretation:

The sample was evenly distributed by gender, with a slight male majority (51.7%). The age profile shows a younger demographic, with 75% of respondents under the age of 40. Educational attainment was relatively high—65% held graduate or postgraduate qualifications, indicating a population likely to have prior exposure to environmental issues through formal education. Students constituted the largest occupational group (50%), suggesting a strong representation of individuals who may be more engaged in learning-based environmental initiatives.

Awareness Levels by Pollution Type

Table 2 Respondents’ Awareness of Different Pollution Types

Interpretation:

Awareness was highest for air pollution (91.7%), followed closely by water pollution (88.3%). Soil pollution awareness was moderate (75%), while noise pollution lagged at 64.2%. These results mirror patterns in national-level studies, where media and policy discourse tend to focus on air and water quality, leaving noise and soil contamination relatively underrepresented in public dialogue.

Adoption of Eco-friendly Practices

Table 3 Frequency of Eco-friendly Practices among Respondents

Interpretation:

The most commonly practiced sustainable habits were using reusable shopping bags (71.7%) and avoiding single-use plastics (68.3%). Waste segregation and energy conservation were also moderately common, each practiced frequently by around 59% of respondents. However, composting was rare, with over half (55.9%) never engaging in the activity—likely due to space limitations and lack of infrastructure. Public transport and carpooling use was split fairly evenly, suggesting both accessibility challenges and personal preference barriers.

Statistical Test Results

Table 4 Hypothesis Testing Outcomes

Interpretation:

The Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.76 (p < .001) demonstrates a strong positive relationship between awareness levels and adoption of eco-friendly practices—supporting Hypothesis 1. The Chi-square test (χ² = 16.42, p = .002) confirms that participation in environmental programs significantly increases the likelihood of sustained pollution control behaviors, validating Hypothesis 2.

Key Patterns Identified

• Generational Differences: Younger respondents were more aware of air and water pollution but less consistent in translating awareness into daily practices compared to older groups.
• Gender Differences: Women reported more consistent engagement in household-level sustainable practices (e.g., waste segregation, water conservation), whereas men reported greater involvement in public environmental initiatives.
• Occupational Influence: Students demonstrated high awareness, professionals leaned towards workplace-focused sustainability, and homemakers showed consistent personal-level adoption of eco-friendly habits.

DISCUSSION

The findings of this survey-based study underscore a recurring theme in both international and Indian environmental research: awareness is a necessary foundation for sustainable action, but it does not automatically result in consistent eco-friendly behavior. The high levels of awareness regarding air (91.7%) and water pollution (88.3%) observed in this study mirror trends noted in the OECD Environmental Outlook (2021) and UNEP Global Environment Outlook (2022), both of which found that media coverage and government campaigns tend to focus on high-visibility environmental threats. However, as in the work of Kumar and Sharma (2020), this study reveals a distinct “awareness–action gap,” with only 54% of respondents frequently engaging in sustainable habits.

The strong positive correlation (r = .76, p < .001) between awareness and sustainable practices aligns closely with Singh et al. (2019), who found that greater knowledge of waste management practices correlated with higher adoption rates in urban India. Similarly, the chi-square results (χ² = 16.42, p = .002) support Deshmukh’s (2022) observation that participation in environmental initiatives—such as Maharashtra’s plastic ban campaigns—significantly increases compliance and commitment to eco-friendly behaviors.

Demographic patterns provide further nuance. Younger respondents (18–25 years) exhibited notably high awareness, particularly of air and water pollution, likely influenced by environmental content in school curricula. However, this group’s actual engagement in practices such as composting or public transport use was inconsistent. This echoes the European Environment Agency (2022) conclusion that practical, experiential engagement—such as field projects or community clean-ups—is more effective than purely informational campaigns in embedding long-term habits.

Conversely, homemakers and retired individuals demonstrated strong commitment to household-level sustainability, particularly in waste segregation and water conservation. This pattern is consistent with Mehta and Reddy’s (2021) findings that when sustainability is linked to daily livelihood activities, adoption rates improve significantly. Working professionals showed moderate engagement, often aligning sustainability with workplace practices, but required further encouragement to extend these behaviors into their personal lives.

The relatively low awareness of noise pollution (64.2%) reinforces Banerjee’s (2022) argument that this form of pollution remains underestimated in policy and public consciousness despite its serious health impacts. Similarly, moderate awareness of soil pollution (75%) suggests that issues such as pesticide contamination and landfill leachate are still not fully integrated into mainstream environmental education.

Behavioral adoption patterns also point to structural barriers. The low rates of composting (20.8%) and public transport use (34.2%) appear to be less a matter of unwillingness and more a result of infrastructure gaps. This aligns with the World Bank (2021) report on air quality, which emphasized that even motivated citizens struggle to maintain eco-friendly habits when supportive systems—such as efficient waste management facilities or reliable public transit—are lacking.

In summary, these results highlight three critical points for sustainable development efforts:

1. Awareness campaigns need to be complemented with tangible infrastructure and incentives.
2. Environmental programs that involve active community participation yield stronger behavioral change.
3. Interventions should be demographic-specific—providing experiential learning for youth, leveraging homemakers as community sustainability champions, and integrating eco-friendly policies into workplaces.

The data reinforce the view that achieving pollution control as part of the broader sustainable development agenda requires a blended approach—balancing education, engagement, and enabling conditions.

CONCLUSION

This study set out to examine the interplay between public awareness, perceptions, and behavioral practices concerning pollution control and sustainable development. By employing a survey-based approach with 120 respondents from diverse demographic groups in urban and semi-urban areas, it sought to bridge an important knowledge gap—understanding not only what people know about environmental issues, but also how that knowledge translates into everyday action.

The results provide a mixed picture. On one hand, the high levels of awareness about air (91.7%) and water pollution (88.3%) are encouraging and suggest that sustained public discourse, school curricula, and government campaigns have had a measurable impact. However, the lower awareness rates for soil (75%) and especially noise pollution (64.2%) reveal that not all forms of pollution receive equal attention. These gaps in understanding could limit the effectiveness of broader sustainability efforts, as neglecting less visible or less-discussed environmental threats still undermines long-term ecological balance.

Behaviorally, the findings are sobering. While more than half of respondents reported regular engagement in eco-friendly habits such as avoiding single-use plastics (68.3%) and using reusable shopping bags (71.7%), other important practices lagged behind. Waste segregation, though widely promoted, was regularly followed by only 58.3% of respondents, and composting was practiced by just 20.8%. Public transport and carpooling, both key strategies for reducing urban air pollution, saw low uptake at 34.2%, indicating that even motivated individuals face logistical or infrastructural barriers to sustainable transportation.

Statistical analysis confirmed two important hypotheses. First, there is a strong positive relationship between environmental awareness and sustainable practices (r = .76, p < .001), suggesting that knowledge remains an essential driver of eco-friendly behavior. Second, participation in environmental programs significantly boosts commitment to pollution control (χ² = 16.42, p = .002), underscoring the value of active engagement over passive learning.

The demographic breakdown offers additional insight for targeted interventions. Younger individuals, while generally more aware, displayed a gap between knowledge and consistent practice—highlighting the need for experiential, hands-on learning. Homemakers and retired individuals, by contrast, showed high commitment to sustainable household practices, making them valuable community-level advocates for environmental initiatives. Working professionals demonstrated environmental consciousness in workplace contexts but were less consistent in personal life, suggesting the potential for workplace-based sustainability programs to spill over into domestic habits.

These findings align with and extend prior research. They affirm that awareness is a necessary condition but not a sufficient one for sustainable development. Infrastructure, incentives, and participatory programs are critical enablers. As international studies (e.g., OECD, 2021; UNEP, 2022) have shown, the most successful sustainability interventions combine education with easy access to eco-friendly alternatives and community involvement.

In the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDGs 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15—these insights are highly relevant. Reducing pollution requires an integrated approach that addresses both human behavior and systemic conditions. This means expanding environmental education, especially on less visible forms of pollution; investing in public infrastructure such as waste processing and public transit; and incentivizing individuals and communities to adopt and maintain sustainable practices.

Ultimately, the pathway to a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future lies in turning widespread concern into consistent action. Bridging the awareness–action gap will require not only informed citizens but also empowered communities and responsive governance structures. If these elements are combined effectively, the shared vision of sustainable development—meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs—can move from aspiration to reality.

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